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Poland’s Rise in the Global Automotive Supply Chain

Oct 28, 2025 Polish automotive industry, Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), Polish automotive sector chambers, SDCM, PGM,


Poland’s Rise in the Global Automotive Supply Chain

 

For South African readers the European automotive sector is most commonly associated with brands from Germany, Italy and the UK. In fact, Europe-based production has so much more to offer. Not to mention Poland – a hidden gem in car parts and accessories manufacturing. It’s a good example of a mature and one of the biggest European economies, known for its resilience to crises in recent decades.


Poland has come a long way over the past few decades, with its automotive industry leading the charge in economic transformation. But how has that momentum shaped today’s automotive landscape? Modern and automated production lines, high quality, and a mature engineering base. Poland is a place where high-quality spare parts for global distributors are manufactured, along with software and engineering solutions for the industry. It is no coincidence that today Poland is the world’s seventh-largest exporter of automotive parts. Sourcing car parts and accessories from Poland is also a great way to diversify business partnerships. Polish producers are known for their trustworthiness and high-quality products. The resilience and strength of the Polish economy have been confirmed by its effective responses to global crises, such as the 2007 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.


We decided to take a closer look at the Polish automotive industry and introduce it to you in more detail. Our editorial team will also be visiting Poland soon – so you can expect more articles to follow.

 


 

 The Polish national booth at Automechanika Johannesburg 2024.


Poland – Europe’s Dark Horse in the Car Parts and Accessories Industry

For many South African buyers, the import of Polish car parts remains relatively little known. Data from 2023 ranks Poland tenth, with a 2.7% share, among the most common sources of automotive parts imports. Meanwhile, Polish manufacturers have for years been consistently building their brand across the continent, becoming for many partners in Europe a synonym of high, European quality at competitive prices.


In 2024, Poland’s automotive industry exported products worth a total of EUR 45.5 billion. The sector is one of the pillars of the Polish economy, currently employing around 205,000 people (data for Q2 2024).


The most important export destinations for Poland’s automotive sector are primarily Germany, France, Italy, and the Czech Republic, with Germany being the key partner for Polish manufacturers. It’s worth mentioning that many European brands are powered by Polish car parts and its products already support road users across the globe, ensuring the daily mobility of hundreds of millions of drivers. In the face of a slowdown in the European automotive sector, many Polish producers are proactively exploring new business opportunities worldwide.

 

 


 

 

The Specifics of the Polish Automotive Industry

From large corporations with international capital to family-owned enterprises with long-standing traditions, the Polish automotive industry forms a strong ecosystem. The sector is distinguished primarily by the production of parts, rather than entire vehicles – unlike other Central and Eastern European countries. Polish-made components are delivered to brands worldwide. Domestic manufacturers specialize in key elements such as batteries, glass, tires, drivetrains, lamps, and seats.


In 2023, passenger car production in Poland reached 574,600 units, while truck production amounted to 308,500 vehicles. The factories of foreign automotive companies operating in Poland operate within a value chain that leverages a number of Polish parts manufacturers and service providers. However, these Polish companies do not limit themselves to being mere subcontractors and are open to diversifying their operations into numerous foreign markets. The presence of foreign factories in Poland reflects trust in the quality of Polish production, strong logistics infrastructure, high work culture, and a skilled workforce


As for typical annual output volumes, the Polish sector produces 7 million lead-acid batteries, 47 million tires, 364,000 brake components, and 82.3 million seat belts. In 2024, the market value of remanufactured parts reached approximately USD 425 million, growing at a rate of 6.5% annually.

 

Strengthening South Africa – Poland Relations


Trade cooperation between Poland and South Africa is still a prospect for the future, and for many buyers, navigating the search for the right suppliers and understanding the applicable trade regulations might not be an easy task. Various institutions assist in finding the right manufacturing companies as well as in understanding the business environment. The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) supports Polish exporters but also helps foreign investors build their network of business contacts. PAIH is the first point of contact for any entrepreneur from the South Africa interested in importing or doing business in Poland. The agency also has a foreign trade office located in South Africa. You can contact PAIH’s foreign trade office in South Africa by writing to the following email address: zbh.rpa@paih.gov.pl . Polish automotive sector chambers are also helpful. SDCM supports distributors of automotive parts in Poland by facilitating business connections, while PGM, as a capital group, integrates Polish automotive companies and helps foreign investors and firms find local partners and contractors.




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